Streaky Chelsea have negative momentumpublished at 12:00 GMT
12:00 GMT
Chelsea v Everton (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea’s biggest problem from the 2-1 defeat at Atalanta in the Champions League is not the implications for the competition, but that negative momentum is starting to set in.
The Blues were being talked about as Premier League title contenders after a valiant 1-1 draw with 10 men against league leaders Arsenal just 10 days ago.
The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge that Sunday was electric, and there was a feeling Chelsea were going places.
However, 10 days is a long time in football. Two defeats and a draw later, the mood is very different ahead of high-flying Everton’s visit to west London on Saturday.
There will be genuine pressure on the team from a demanding fan base that has, at times, been unconvinced by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, and only shown reluctant backing for the ownership depending on results.
Maresca insists Chelsea’s potential to be title challengers has not changed in the past week, given Arsenal are also dropping points and the Premier League table remains congested.
For the owners, they only ask Maresca qualifies for the Champions League again and continues to display signs of progress.
Yet Chelsea fans will be the most demanding voices after last season’s Club World Cup and Conference League triumphs. Any missteps against Everton, Cardiff and Newcastle before Christmas will only serve to generate anger and derision.
In the short term, the challenge is to escape this negative momentum and kick-start another run. Longer term, Chelsea need to show consistency over a sustained period to avoid remaining the streaky cup team they have been since Antonio Conte last won the Premier League in 2016-17.